--- Forwarded Message from Judy Shoaf <[log in to unmask]> --- >Date: Thu, 28 Sep 2000 08:28:35 -0400 >To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum <[log in to unmask]> >From: Judy Shoaf <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Re: #5725.4 multi-standard dvd players (!) ------------------ I noticed the messages about converting PAL/SECAM to NTSC. Aside from the copyright issues--note that these standards offer a BETTER-looking video than NTSC, while the copy is relatively blurred and colorless. We have a machine that will do a "good" job of conversion but I really try to discourage instructors from buying foreign-standard tapes with this in mind, because the results are so poor. I took over the media library last year and was faced with a dozen PAL videos that had been purchased and converted; I ditched the copies after examining them and shelved the originals, with the idea that if someone wants to show or see the movie they want to see a good copy. Of course, some people don't care about the loss of quality and just want to be able to watch it at home and show it in the classroom. My justification is that (1) instructors can preview the film in the language lab, which has a really nice publicly-accessible mutli-standard setup. They can cue the film up in the media library if they need to. (2) They can show the video using a multi-standard player and a projector, which they can get from the equipment room. The results are spectacular. I STRONGLY recommend using the originals with a projector! It's a bother but definitely worth doing. The projector gets around the trouble of using a multi-standard monitor. Judy Shoaf University of Florida